I think we all want to feel successful—to be seen for our value and respected for doing a good job. And in my opinion, the secret to success is having strong, healthy relationships, both personally and professionally.

Early in my leadership journey, I witnessed how the natural tension between roles within my company caused conflict. And when unresolved, this conflict damaged relationships. I was deeply curious: How could I help my employees get past finger-pointing, judging, avoiding, gossiping—all those behaviors that diminish relationships?

Understanding that team health can make or break companies, I began studying conflict resolution, vulnerability, daring leadership and effective communication. I sat down with struggling employees to understand what was going on, helping them turn things around. I mediated conflicts between teammates, helping them see each other’s points of view. I taught myself and others to seek to understand rather than make assumptions and judge. I coached my team on how to give effective feedback, using straightforward yet caring language, and I taught them how to create a safe space so others could provide them with feedback. Developing strong, healthy relationships built on trust, honesty and compassion was our focus. And it changed me and the company.

I've found building solid relationships with your coworkers is imperative to your success, their success and the company’s success. According to a study in the Academy of Management Journal, the more time you spend trying to understand and build relationships with your colleagues, the better you cultivate shared experiences and develop more trusting relationships. When trust exists between coworkers, there is a much higher chance of collaboration, cooperation and contribution. 

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